Common Causes And Complications Of OCD

Presence Of Other Mental Health Disorders

Other mental health disorders don't cause obsessive-compulsive disorder by themselves. However, the presence of other mental health disorders has a high correlation with OCD. It's common for obsessive-compulsive disorder patients to have one or more other mental health disorders due to the abnormalities in neurotransmitters causing multiple different symptoms. OCD is classified as an anxiety disorder, and many patients also have another anxiety disorder alongside it. The disorders that might occur alongside OCD include generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, panic attacks, specific phobias, and social anxiety disorder. These disorders all have irrational anxiety and fear as their basis, though the circumstances and presentation of the fear are different. Depression is also very common in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients. The symptoms of major depressive disorder include mood changes, loss of interest in activities, sleep issues, and fatigue lasting more than two weeks. Bipolar disorder can also occur alongside OCD, with the hallmark symptoms being extreme mood and behavioral changes.

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Autoimmune Causes

There is some research indicating obsessive-compulsive disorder might be correlated with certain autoimmune diseases. An underlying autoimmune condition can potentially trigger OCD in some individuals. Alternatively, both the autoimmune condition and OCD may be related to an unidentified underlying condition. Researchers are still trying to determine the actual link between obsessive-compulsive disorder and autoimmune disorders. Some research shows OCD has a higher prevalence in children who develop streptococcal infections. The theory is OCD symptoms occur because the body undergoes an autoimmune response to bacterial infections. Medical researchers have coined the term PANDAS to talk about children who have unusually sudden OCD behaviors or tics that develop following an infection. PANDAS stands for 'pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections.' Researchers believe genetics likely play a role in an individual's risk of developing PANDAS. They have also noted unusual correlations between certain antibodies in a child's blood and whether or not they develop PANDAS.

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